Page:The Partisan (revised).djvu/168

 his father's tavern, the tastes were not sufficiently high, of those who patronized that establishment, to call for other than the cheapest qualities. A brief dialogue about the favourite wines&mdash;a sly reference on the part of Singleton to the drinking capacities of his British guests, and a hypocritical sort of condolence upon the privations to which his uncle must be subjected, in consequence of the proclamation, soon brought the latter back to the legitimate topic.

"But what news, Robert, do you bring us? What of the continentals&mdash;is it true that we are to have an army from Virginia, or is it mere rumour?&mdash;a thing to give us hope, only the more completely to depress and mortify? Speak out, man, and none of your inuendoes&mdash;you know well enough that I am with you, body and soul."

"I believe you will be, uncle, but you certainly are not yet. With the hope, however, to make you so more completely, I will give you news that shall cheer you up, if you have the heart to hope for a favourable change of things. It is no mere rumour, sir, touching the northern army. Congress has remembered us at last, and the continentals are actually under way, and by this time must be on the borders of North Carolina."

"Indeed! that is well," cried the colonel, chuckling, and rubbing his hands&mdash;"this is good news, indeed, Robert, and may help us somewhat out of our difficulties."

"Not so, Colonel Walton, if it please you. It will help you out of no difficulties, if you are not willing to lend a hand for that purpose. Congress cannot afford an army&mdash;it can only give us the nucleus for one; some fifteen hundred men at the utmost, and but half of these continentals. We have the Delaware and Maryland lines&mdash;brave troops, indeed&mdash;among the very bravest that Washington commands&mdash;but few, too few for our purpose, unless we ourselves turn out."

"Who commands them, Robert?"

"De Kalb while on the march; but, if we need men, and if our arms are few, the name of our commander is a host for us. The conqueror of Burgoyne at Saratoga has been ordered from Virginia to lead them."